Jamin f



(No Model.) J HOW GAR BRAKE.

No. 268,045. g Patented Aug. 22,1882.

n, FETERa Phomljlbogripher, Washington. 0. c

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

JAMES HOW, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BEN- JAMIN F. SHERMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,045, dated August 22, 1882,

Application filed June 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HOW, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Bufl'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have 5 made certain Improvements in Springs for Railroad-Gar Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is solely for the purpose of preventing car-wheels sliding on the rails when the brakes are set. I

It is well understood that as usuallyarra-n god the car-brakes, whenset either by air, steam, or hand, will often cause the wheels to slide; and whenever they do so slide they grind a fiat place on the periphery or tread of the wheels, rendering them useless forpassen ger-cars. (Jarwheels are always examined at the end of their usual run, and when any are found having fiat places thereon the car isat once ordered ofl'and 2o taken to the shops for new wheels. This is a great loss, the wheels being expensive. The labor, the costot' new wheels, and the withdrawing the car from use all make a large amount in the aggregate.

It is found that when the wheels do slide 1 there is less resistance than when rolling. In one case a very small portion of the wheel is on the track, whilein the othera revolving wheel constantlypresents a surface.

0 The present invention is calculated to obviate thcse difiiculties, and will be understood as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The drawing is a bottom plan view of a cartruck, showing the position of the spring as 3 5 set into the ordinary brake-rod.

A A represent the usual brake-rod underneath the car-truck, attached at each end, as is usual, to the levers at a, which are pivoted in bolts g g in the brake-beams B B. At the other end of lever a is attached the usual lever top rod, 0, and also is attached at the other end to dead-lever D, and which has the usual chain-rod 0, running from its other end tothe brake-wheel.

E is the body-rod, to which dead-lever D is pivoted, and which is connected to the piston of the air-cylinder when air-brakes are used. (Not shown.)

The spring G is set in the brake-rod A by cutting said rod and forming on one end, A,

a yoke or frame, I), which incloscs said spring, 7

and which may be of pieces of rubber 0 cc, I

with washers d between, as shown; or a spiral. j, or any other suitable springs may be used that will be sufficiently sensitive. The other end of the rod A passes through said spring in frame I), and. its end is held by a nut or head, 0. When the brake is set the spring G is compressed; but, while allowing the brakeshoes h h to act sufficiently, it prevents setting the wheels so that they cannot revolve, the, give or elasticity of the spring doing this etl'ectually.

It is possible that a springer springs may be set in the rods 0 or O or E and produce nearly the same result; but at present I prefer the spring G in the brake-rod A, as described. v

In addition to the spring G, or without it, as may prove suitable, I set a spiral spring,f, or the bolt 9 in the brake-beams B B, to which the-brake-levers a a are pivoted. These will give somewhat the same effect, or at least aid said spring G in its workings, and will be used in connection therewith or without, as may be most effective.

I am aware that springs of various sorts have been and are used in connection with car and wagon brakes, but are for the purpose of th rowing off the brakes alter being applied and holding them away from the wheels. Such I do not claim, but only a spring or springs arranged substantially as described and solely for the purpose set forth.

I claim-- 7 A car-brake spring device consisting ofthe spring G, located at the mid-length ot' the rods A A, levers a a, whose points are furnished with springsfon the outside of the brake-bars B, so as to give elasticity at this point, as well as at the mid-length of the rod, and the con meeting-rods O O and center lever, D, whereby the brake is eased off when the wheel begins to slip upon the rail, substantially as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HOW. Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE,

B. F. SHERMAN. 

